U.S. patent application number 12/655850 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-07 for disposable custom fit pet feeding bowl liner with mating engagement and release tip.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tigris Enterprises, LLC. Invention is credited to Ivan Ablakhat, Johny Y. Mansour, Emil Rostamo.
Application Number | 20110162583 12/655850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44223953 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110162583 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rostamo; Emil ; et
al. |
July 7, 2011 |
Disposable custom fit pet feeding bowl liner with mating engagement
and release tip
Abstract
A disposable custom fit pet feeding bowl liner which is
removably placed over the food area of the feeding bowl so that
food is placed into the liner and does not come in contact with the
interior surface of the food bowl. When the animal has completed
feeding and if there is any remaining unconsumed food in the food
bowl or even if the food has been consumed and a dirty residue of
food is left in the liner, the liner can be quickly and easily
removed from the food dish and a new liner placed on the food dish
so that new food can be placed onto the liner without having to
clean and wash the food dish to clean away unconsumed food from the
food bowl or dish.
Inventors: |
Rostamo; Emil; (Northridge,
CA) ; Mansour; Johny Y.; (Calabasas, CA) ;
Ablakhat; Ivan; (Calabasas, CA) |
Assignee: |
Tigris Enterprises, LLC
|
Family ID: |
44223953 |
Appl. No.: |
12/655850 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/61.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 5/0128
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/61.5 |
International
Class: |
A01K 29/00 20060101
A01K029/00 |
Claims
1. A liner used with a food bowl having a center food retaining
section, a circumferential lip surrounding the food retaining
section and a sidewall body descending from the circumferential
lip, the food retaining section, circumferential lip and sidewall
body having a given shape, and liner comprising: a. a liner body
having a center food retaining section, a liner circumferential lip
surrounding the liner food retaining section, and a liner sidewall
body descending from the liner circumferential lip, the shape of
the liner center food retaining section matching the shape of the
food bowl center food retaining section, the shape of the liner
circumferential lip matching the shape of the food bowl
circumferential lip, and the shape of the liner sidewall body
matching the shape of the sidewall body of the food bowl; b. the
center food retaining section of the food bowl having a transverse
opening extending through it from an interior surface of the center
food retaining section to an exterior surface of the food retaining
section; and c. a transverse engagement pin extending
perpendicularly from an exterior surface of the liner center food
retaining section and inserted into the transverse opening in the
center food retaining section of the food bowl and retained therein
by a press fit, the liner fitting over the food bowl so that the
center food retaining section, circumferential lip and sidewall
body of the food bowl are respectively covered by the liner center
food retaining section, liner circumferential lip and liner
sidewall body.
2. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liner is made
of material selected from the group consisting of plastic,
polyvinyl, polyvinyl chloride and rubber.
3. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the shape of the
liner is selected from the group consisting of round, square, and
oval.
4. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liner is made
of transparent material.
5. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liner is made
of opaque material.
6. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the engagement pin
is made of hard plastic.
7. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the engagement pin
has a hard insert within the engagement pin.
8. The liner in accordance with claim 1 wherein the liner is
disposable.
9. A liner used with a food bowl having a center food retaining
section, a circumferential lip surrounding the food retaining
section and a sidewall body descending from the circumferential
lip, the food retaining section, circumferential lip and sidewall
body having a given shape, and liner comprising: a. a liner body
having a center food retaining section, a liner circumferential lip
surrounding the liner food retaining section, and a liner sidewall
body descending from the liner circumferential lip, the shape of
the liner center food retaining section matching the shape of the
food bowl center food retaining section, the shape of the liner
circumferential lip matching the shape of the food bowl
circumferential lip, and the shape of the liner sidewall body
matching the shape of the sidewall body of the food bowl; b. the
liner fitting over the food bowl so that the center food retaining
section, circumferential lip and sidewall body of the food bowl are
respectively covered by the liner center food retaining section,
liner circumferential lip and liner sidewall body.
10. The liner in accordance with claim 9 wherein the liner is made
of material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene
plastic, polyvinyl, polyvinyl chloride and rubber.
11. The liner in accordance with claim 9 wherein the shape of the
liner is selected from the group consisting of round, square, and
oval.
12. The liner in accordance with claim 9 wherein the liner is made
of transparent material.
13. The liner in accordance with claim 9 wherein the liner is made
of opaque material.
14. The liner in accordance with claim 9 wherein the liner is
disposable.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of feeding bowls
into which pet food is placed for consumption by a pet. Most
commonly, the feeding bowl is for use by pet dogs and cats, however
the feeding bowl can be used to feed any animal, whether a domestic
or a wild animal which is free to roam in nature and comes to a
person's house or backyard for food.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Feeding bowls into which animal food placed are well known
and come in all shapes and sizes. A common problem with food bowls,
especially where the food placed therein is moist and/or in gravy
is that the pet may not completely consume all of the food placed
in the bowl and may leave a portion of the food in the bowl
unconsumed. This is especially true for cats.
[0005] Therefore, the owner is left with the problem, of scooping
out the unconsumed food and then throughly washing the food bowl
before new food is placed into the bowl. This is a time consuming
and messy process.
[0006] There is a significant need for an improved apparatus to
eliminate the problem in disposing of unconsumed food from a food
bowl and having to thoroughly wash the bowl before new food is
placed in the bowl.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention is a disposable custom fit pet feeding
bowl liner which is removably placed over the food area of the
feeding bowl so that food is placed into the liner and does not
come in contact with the interior surface of the food bowl.
Therefore, when the animal has completed feeding and if there is
any remaining unconsumed food in the food bowl or even if the food
has been consumed and a dirty residue of food is left in the liner,
the liner can be quickly and easily remove from the food dish and a
new liner placed on the food dish so that new food can be placed
onto the liner without having to clean and wash the food dish to
clean away unconsumed food from the food bowl or dish.
[0008] An additional improvement in the present invention
disposable liner is the inclusion of female receiving opening in
the center of the food bowl and a male retaining pin on the
underside of the disposable liner and aligned to be inserted into
the female receiving opening when the liner is placed over the food
bowl. The retaining pin assures that the liner will remain in place
on the food bowl while the food is being consumed and in addition
the retaining pin provides a quick release mechanism so that a
pushing force on the retaining pin pushes the liner away from the
food bowl and facilitates removal of the liner from the food bowl
after the food has been consumed and the liner needs to be
replaced.
[0009] The shape of the liner is matched to the shape of the food
bowl so that it covers the interior food containing area and the
upper circumferential area of the bowl which surrounds the interior
food compartment so that the entire bowl remains clean and free of
food.
[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a disposable feeding bowl liner which is custom fit to
match the shape of the food area and surrounding upper surface of
the food bowl so that food will be retained on the liner and not
come in contact with the food bowl. In this away, the liner is
removed and replaced with a new liner without the requirement to
scrape unconsumed food from the food bowl and without the
requirement to wash the food bowl before fresh food is placed onto
the liner.
[0011] It is further object of the present invention to proving a
mating retaining means on the liner and the food bowl so that the
retaining means will assure that the liner remains on the food bowl
while an animal is consuming the food even if the animal exerts a
vigorous force on the liner while the animal is feeding, and
further provides a release means by which the liner can be released
from the food bowl so that it can be disposed of and replaced with
a new liner.
[0012] Further novel features and other objects of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in
conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of
illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a food bowl and the present
invention disposable custom fit liner with mating engagement and
release tip;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a food bowl
and the present invention disposable custom fit liner with mating
engagement and release tip; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the present invention
disposable custom fit liner with mating engagement and release tip
and the pet food bowl.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Although specific embodiments of the present invention will
now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be
understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and
merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible
specific embodiments which can represent applications of the
principles of the present invention. Various changes and
modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the
present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,
scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined
in the appended claims.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 there is illustrated the
components of the present invention. The present invention is used
with a pet food bowl 100 which has an interior food receiving
section 120 surrounded by an exterior circumferential lip 130 which
extends to the body 140 which is placed on a surface such as the
floor or a mat. The pet food bowl 100 including interior food
receiving area 120, circumferential lip 130 and body 140 have a
given shape. In the illustration, the bowl is round. It will be
appreciated that any shape food bowl 100, whether round, square,
oval or any other shape is within the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0019] One improvement incorporated into the food bowl 100 is a
central opening 150 located at the center of the food receiving
section 120 and extending through the entire thickness of the food
bowl at this location.
[0020] The present invention disposable liner 10 is a unitary body
comprised of interior food receiving area 20, circumferential lip
30 and body 40 having a given shape which matches the shape of the
corresponding components of the food bowl 100. In the illustration,
since the bowl is round with a sidewall that is at a slight
outwardly extending angle, the disposable liner is also round and
also has a matching sidewall extending at the same outwardly
extending angle as the food bowl. At the bottom surface 22 of the
interior food receiving section is a mating engagement member or
pin 24 which extends perpendicularly to the surface 22. When the
disposable liner 10 is placed over the food bowl 100, the
engagement pin 24 is inserted into central opening 150. The shape
the disposable liner 10 matches the shape of food bowl 100, so that
the shape of the food receiving section 20 of the disposable liner
10 matches the shape of the food receiving section 120 of the food
bowl 100, the shape of the circumferential lip 30 of the disposable
liner 10 matches the shape of the circumferential lip 130 of the
food bowl 100, and shape of the body 40 of the disposable liner
matches the shape of the body 140 of the food bowl 100. The
engagement pin 24 is inserted into opening 150 which assures that
the liner 10 will remain in place. The opening 150 and engagement
pin 24 are sized to assure a press fit the of engagement pin 24
into the opening 150 if the food bowl 100. It will be appreciated
that any shape liner 10, whether round, square, oval or any other
shape is within the spirit and scope of the present invention so
that it matches the shape of the food bowl.
[0021] Food 300 is placed on the food area section 20 of the
disposable liner 10. When the food is consumed or even if there is
left over food and the liner 10 needs to be replaced, a pushing
force against the engagement pin 24 serves to release it from its
press fit engagement into the opening 150 and the used disposable
liner 10 can thereby be removed and discarded and a new disposable
liner 10 placed over the food bowl 100 and retained as discussed
above, all without the necessity of having to clean any portion of
the food bowl 100.
[0022] The disposable liner 10 and all of its components can be
made of clear or opaque material and can be made of material
selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyvinyl, polyvinyl
chloride, rubber or any other thin and flexible material. The
engagement pin 24 can have a strengthening member 26 inserted into
it to give it more strength or simply can be formed of hard plastic
or comparable material.
[0023] Defined in detail, the present invention is a liner used
with a food bowl having a center food retaining section, a
circumferential lip surrounding the food retaining section and a
sidewall body descending from the circumferential lip, the food
retaining section, circumferential lip and sidewall body having a
given shape, and liner comprising: (a) a liner body having a center
food retaining section, a liner circumferential lip surrounding the
liner food retaining section, and a liner sidewall body descending
from the liner circumferential lip, the shape of the liner center
food retaining section matching the shape of the food bowl center
food retaining section, the shape of the liner circumferential lip
matching the shape of the food bowl circumferential lip, and the
shape of the liner sidewall body matching the shape of the sidewall
body of the food bowl; (b) the center food retaining section of the
food bowl having a transverse opening extending through it from an
interior surface of the center food retaining section to an
exterior surface of the food retaining section; and (c) a
transverse engagement pin extending perpendicularly from an
exterior surface of the liner center food retaining section and
inserted into the transverse opening in the center food retaining
section of the food bowl and retained therein by a press fit, the
liner fitting over the food bowl so that the center food retaining
section, circumferential lip and sidewall body of the food bowl are
respectively covered by the liner center food retaining section,
liner circumferential lip and liner sidewall body.
[0024] Defined broadly, the present invention is a liner used with
a food bowl having a center food retaining section, a
circumferential lip surrounding the food retaining section and a
sidewall body descending from the circumferential lip, the food
retaining section, circumferential lip and sidewall body having a
given shape, and liner comprising: (a) a liner body having a center
food retaining section, a liner circumferential lip surrounding the
liner food retaining section, and a liner sidewall body descending
from the liner circumferential lip, the shape of the liner center
food retaining section matching the shape of the food bowl center
food retaining section, the shape of the liner circumferential lip
matching the shape of the food bowl circumferential lip, and the
shape of the liner sidewall body matching the shape of the sidewall
body of the food bowl; (b) the liner fitting over the food bowl so
that the center food retaining section, circumferential lip and
sidewall body of the food bowl are respectively covered by the
liner center food retaining section, liner circumferential lip and
liner sidewall body.
[0025] Of course the present invention is not intended to be
restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific
embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same
may be modified in various particulars or relations without
departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention
hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method
shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an
operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or
modifications in which this invention might be embodied or
operated.
* * * * *